Bribon 500 and Thisbe, champions of the Xacobeo 6mR Europeans

After a total of seven races, Saturday saw the Xacobeo 6mR Europeans come to a close, with new European class champions. In the Classics division, Pedro Campos' "Bribon 500" truly shone on their last day of racing, claiming their win with a four-point advantage, their second consecutive continental victory. In the Opens, Michel Teweles' and Swiss team "Thisbe" moved to the top of the leader board on day two and were able to hold onto their lead and final victory.
 
The Race Committee had a challenging last day of sailing. A very unstable and light wind delayed the start by several hours, with pressure to prepare the racecourse in time, until finally at 15:00h (the deadline for the last race of the day), the fleet were able to set off for an exciting last competition in the Ria de Pontevedra with a north-easterly wind of 10-12 knots.
 
"Bribon 500" victorious in a breathtaking last race
A gradual progression throughout the week, Pedro Campos at the helm of "Bribon 500" (RCNS) began racing on Saturday in second place, just one point from the leaders. The RCNS team were finally able to claim the European title after their second in the incredibly close last race, where four teams fought head-to-head for the title. The Xacobeo 6mR Europeans is Pedro Campos' second consecutive continental title,
 
"I would firstly like to dedicate this victory to our sponsor, King Juan Carlos I, and the whole team are hoping that he can be back with us as soon as possible. I would also like to congratulate the crew, because we made a strong comeback throughout the championship and they never doubted the potential of our team to defend the title," said the "Bribon 500" skipper on returning to the RCNS docks.  
 
Behind them, "Aida" skippered by Paco Botas (Real Club Náutico de A Coruña), began the day in a very tight first place, just one point away from Campos. Their seventh place today ensured the Coruña team their podium position of second overall, evenly drawing in the Xacobeo 6mR Europeans with third classified team Ossi Paija's "Astrée III". The Finnish team, who were leading the championship on Day 2, finally claimed third place overall.  
 
"Thisbe" confirms their command of the Open division to claim the Xacobeo 6mR European title
After three days at the top of the leader board, Michel Teweles and Swiss team "Thisbe" (Club Nautic de Versoix) finally confirmed their victory in the Open division on Saturday, becoming the new European champions of the class. After finishing fourteenth in the last race, a result they would then discard, Teweles' team were able to defend their leadership with a three-point advantage over fellow Swiss team "Junior" skippered by Philippe Durr, who today clocked up a brilliant second place, and thus a second on the general podium.
 
"We are really happy. We chose the right strategy in the championship, and have reached the last day of the competition with a truly satisfying result," explained Teweles at the end of the regatta.
 
In third place on the final podium, it was Patrick Monteiro and Portuguese team "Seljm." The team from Clube Naval de Cascais finished the championship with an eighth place in the final race, a partial which they then discarded for the general leader board to seal their third on the podium for the Europeans, just three points from second.
 
The day's racing saw victory for Violeta Álvarez's team "Stella" who finished in fifth place overall.
 
The closing ceremony dinner, a final touch in the Xacobeo 6mR Europeans
On Saturday night the Real Club Náutico de Sanxenxo village will host the closing ceremony dinner for the Xacobeo 6mR Europeans, which will also be an award ceremony for the winners of the continental regatta. The dinner will be attended by Nava Castro, Director of Turismo de Galicia, Manuel Heredia, General Director of Commerce and Consumerism for the Xunta de Galicia, Ignacio Frutos Ruiz, Chief Commander of the arsenal de Ferrol, Carmen Fernández Penas, Territorial Director for ABANCA in Pontevedra, Tim Russel, Secretary of the International Association of the Six-Metre class, and Pedro Campos, President of the RCNS, among other authorities.
 
The dinner is a finale for an intense week of racing on the Ria de Pontevedra, where the 31 participating teams have all given their utmost in the competition.